Day 1 (December 23) | Departure
Meeting at the airport and departure for Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) with a stopover in Istanbul.
Day 2 (December 24) | Arrival in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Tour – Evening Dinner Cruise
Upon arrival, our people will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel for check in and rest (expected time of arrival at our rooms at 10:00).After settling in and freshening up from the flights, we will gather at noon for lunch at a local restaurant! After lunch we begin our city tour with a visit to the Palace of Reunification, which is the residence of the President of South Vietnam. It was a symbol of the reign of the Southern Administration until the end of April 1975. We continue to the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Central Post Office, famous attractions of Ho Chi Minh City.We could not miss the War Memorial Museum, which has an extensive collection of exhibits including weapons, photographs and artifacts from Vietnam's resistance wars with the French and Americans. After that, we will visit the Ben Thanh market, where anything and everything could be sold.In the evening, we will be picked up from the hotel to go to Saigon harbor and enjoy a magnificent evening cruise with dinner on the river! Back at about 21:00 back to our hotel for an overnight stay!
Day 3 (December 25) | Cu Chi Tunnels – War Memories
Meeting with our guide after breakfast. We will head to the Cu Chi tunnels. This route lends itself to observing the scenery as it changes from views of the city to rice paddies, villagers drying noodles on the side of the road and other scenes typical of southern Vietnam.The Cu Chi tunnels consist of an incredible underground network of tunnels constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters (Viet Cong) during both the French and American wars. We'll start our visit with the Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc sections of the tunnel; here, imagine what it would be like to be a guerrilla with Russian Carbine and AK 47 Kalaznikov rifles you see on display. Then spend your time exploring the other areas and the tunnel system that includes special living areas with kitchens and bedrooms side by side with other war facilities such as weapons factories, hospitals and command centers, meeting all the basic needs of the fighters who lived here. Besides, there are also many hidden and dangerous traps inside the tunnels that resemble a maze for security purposes during the war. Afterwards, try some special tea and cassava (food of the guerrillas during the war).A regular lunch at a local restaurant follows and then, after a short break, we return to Ho Chi Minh City.The afternoon is at your leisure with plenty of opportunities for shopping, tea or drinks in the cosmopolitan area around our hotel until the time we gather again for dinner! Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 4 (December 26) | Mekong Delta Excursion
We depart Ho Chi Minh City after breakfast at the hotel for the drive to the Mekong Delta.Drift through the bustling Mekong's busy branches and quiet canals. We will arrive at MyTho and visit the largest pagoda in the Vinh Trang Delta! We continue by boat on the Tien River to Qui Island (the turtle island). We will pass by the picturesque fishing port and the boat-building carnages as well as the islands of "The Dragon", "The Phoenix" and "The Unicorn". An opportunity to visit an island orchard and experience the daily life of the farmers here. Taste exotic seasonal fruits unique to the region and explore the quiet countryside on foot. Lunch, traditional local dishes, is served in a local restaurant in the middle of the Orchid Garden. (included). During the tour, we will cross the Bao Dinh canal to Bao Tre province, the "land of coconut" as it is called, where we will see some of the most typical examples of local agricultural production on the river! Upon completion of our tour, we will transfer back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City for relaxation before heading out for dinner. Our evening is free to enjoy our last night in the bustling metropolis of the Vietnamese south.
Day 5 (December 27) | Flight to Da Nang – City Tour
After breakfast at our hotel we are ready to depart from Ho Chi Minh City for central Vietnam! We'll take the domestic flight to Da Nang where we'll head to our beachfront hotel to drop off luggage! Very soon we will depart for our tour with our first visit to the "Marble Mountains", a cluster of 5 hills south of the city! We will go to Thuy Hill to discover the hidden caves with small temples and pagodas! The hills here hide Hindu and Buddhist caves with beautiful decorations (in Greece we would call them "ascetaria"). Next to these hills with their long history of using stone in everyday life and worship, one of the most famous communities of artisans and artists can't help but be found in the village of Non Nuoc! Break for lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the traditional Han market where, apart from souvenirs, clothes and local artifacts, you will have the opportunity to chat with the locals! Transfer back to our hotel and room pick up before dinner at a local restaurant!
Day 6 (December 28) | Ba Na Hills – Golden Bridge
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, meet our guide at 08:00. We will transfer to Ba Na Hills to discover this beautiful attraction outside Da Nang town. We will take a cable car to the top of the mountain (at 1487 meters altitude) and visit Ba Na Hill with its many different attractions: ancient Debay Wine Cellar & Le Jardin D'Amour, Linh Ung Pagoda, Thich Ca Buddhist statue etc. In the afternoon we recommend you to join other activities and games at Fantasy Park.Break for our lunch at a selected local restaurant! Later, we will walk to the highest peak of the mountain at 1487m and visit Bell Tower, Nghinh Phong Tower and Golden Bridge (Golden Bridge or Bridge of the Hand) to take beautiful photos of the mountain and Da Nang city.We complete the tour followed by transfer for dinner and back to our hotel in Da Nang. Overnight. Note: The Wax Museum, Cotton Cane Game and the carnival skill game at Fantasy Park are not included in the basic entrance fee like the other games and are paid extra.
Day 7 (December 29) | Hoi An – Ancient Town Tour
Breakfast at the hotel and free time for a walk or a swim in the sea right across the street from our hotel! Departure from Da Nang. Meet our guide at 12:00 noon to set off for Hoi An. We will visit the Bay Mau Coconut Forest monument with its canals, the historic river where the heroes of the resistance period to the French colonialists used to rise up with coconut guns. Enjoy fresh air and challenge yourself to the intricate handling of the locals' round local boat.Break for lunch at our selected local restaurant! After a short rest, we will begin our walking tour of the quiet streets of the majestic Hoi An. We will walk through its narrow streets and visit the old merchants' house with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture. Then we will visit the Hoi An Museum, the Chaozhou Chinese Church Assembly Hall with exquisite wood carvings and the 400-year-old old Japanese covered bridge. We complete our tour followed by transfer to dinner and return to our hotel in Da Nang. Overnight.
Day 8 (December 30) | Scenic Train Ride – Imperial City of Hue
After breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to the train station to board the train to the imperial city of Hue! We will enjoy a breathtaking ride with most of it being coastal and crossing through lush green valleys that make the ride a unique attraction! The history of the town over the centuries has created a special art in the locals in the making of incense which has been used throughout the ages in temples and palaces, but today also in homes and shops! We will visit one such traditional workshop before moving on to lunch and our sightseeing tour of the city, starting with the unique architecture of Khai Dinh Mound! We'll head back to our hotel to settle in, with the afternoon free to stroll around the historic city! For those who wish, you can enjoy a short romantic cruise on the city's river (river of fragrances) until time for dinner!
Day 9 (December 31) | Imperial Citadel – Flight to Hanoi – Train Street
After breakfast we leave our rooms and go for the tour of the Imperial Palace (the "Forbidden City")! Then we leave for the airport and our flight to Hanoi! Upon arrival, we will go to the hotel so that we can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant without luggage. In the early afternoon, we will have the unique experience of the "train street" filled with shops and life of a traditional market and houses, but with the train tracks running through it!!! Then dinner will follow , with the evening at our disposal to celebrate New Year's Eve!
Day 10 (January 1) | Hanoi City Tour
Happy New Year!!!! After breakfast we will set out to explore the "millennial capital"! Our first stop will be the Ho Chi Minh City complex, where we will have the opportunity to see and walk around the garden and the two houses where "Uncle Ho" lived and worked from 1954 to 1969. We will also visit the One Pillar pagoda, which is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy and is considered the most unique pagoda in the world. Then we will continue with a visit to the Temple of Literature, which was founded in the 11th century and was the first university in Vietnam. Break for our lunch at a selected local restaurant! After lunch we will visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum which was first used by the French colonialists as a prison for political prisoners and then by the Americans during the war. We end the day with the beauty of the old city! Hop on the Cyclo (Vietnamese tuk tuk) to discover Hanoi's beautiful Old Quarter, as this is the best way to tour the city's sights. Finish the walk and visit Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake, one of the main attractions of the Old Quarter.We conclude the tour with the traditional 1-hour Water Puppet Show and after enjoying dinner, we return to the hotel for overnight stay. Note: Modest dress is required during our visit to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, temples and pagodas.
Day 11 (January 2) | Ninh Binh Excursion
Starting early after breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive 100 km (2.5 hours) to Ninh Binh. Our first stop is the Trang An River. We will sail along the waterways in a traditional Sampan boat where we will gently paddle through numerous breathtaking caves, enjoying breathtaking views on both sides of the river. During the two-hour boat trip, we may see several mountain goats hopping from one cliff to another. A break for lunch follows, at a local selected restaurant.In the afternoon, we have a short transfer to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 9th century. Here, your guide will give you an introduction to some cultural attractions and stories of ancient kings. Return to Hanoi for dinner and overnight at our hotel!
Day 12 (January 3) | Ha Long Bay Cruise
Wake up early and have breakfast for a day that will be special! Today we will head to Ha Long Bay for the cruise ship that will take us to the magnificent waters of the bay! Ha Long Bay is world famous for its serene waters and the hundreds of rocky islands that adorn it, as a unique natural landscape that is, after all, protected by UNESCO! We will just let ourselves enjoy the scenery, from the "light" and "dark" cave. We will also make a stop to swim in the pearly waters! Then, under the care of the crew, we will have fun at the bars and learn to make "spring rolls" from the ship's experienced chefs! Dinner will be served on board combining a selection of traditional Vietnamese cooking and modern cuisine!
Day 13 (January 4) | Ha Long Bay – Return to Hanoi
At 6:30 in the morning, you can participate in a 30-minute Tai-Chi exercise in the deck's sunbathing area. This is followed by breakfast in the restaurant. Then, we will visit "Luon" cave - one of the open caves that protectively harbor the beautiful endemic vegetation of Halong Bay. You have 2 options to choose how to discover it: free kayaking or traditional woven (bamboo) boat paddled by a local boatman.After that, we will return to the cruise, where you can relax and pack your luggage. Leave your luggage outside the door. The crew will collect and prepare them at the dock. You can enjoy a buffet brunch in the restaurant after check-out while the boat returns to port. Our driver will pick you up and transfer you to our hotel in Hanoi with free time until dinner. Tonight is the last night of the trip, don't forget to stock up on gifts and souvenirs!
Day 14 (January 5) | Return to Greece
Early morning transfer to the airport for our return flight (via stopover).Arrival in Greece in the evening.
